A summer chat with Jim Larranaga

By Michael CasagrandeSouth Florida Sun Sentinel

CORAL GABLES — As the only month devoid of collegiate athletic competition begins, the Miami basketball team is hard at work.

Since last year, college basketball teams are allowed eight practice hours a week in the summer with a 2-hour daily maximum. The Hurricanes have a lot to do with 86 percent of last year's scoring somewhere other than the UM practice gym.

We sat down with coach Jim Larranaga after Tuesday's workout that you'll be able to read more about in Thursday's paper. Here are a few bonus thoughts from the interview:

These summer practices are more about evaluating the new talent than anything with nine new members joining the mix.

Injuries aren't helping.

Freshman Deandre Burnett broke his right collarbone last week when a fast-break layup, a push and a wall intersected. He had surgery and currently has his arm in a sling.

Kansas State transfer Angel Rodriguez is still "months" away from knowing if the NCAA will grant him a waiver allowing him to play next season.

Rodriguez wasn't practicing Tuesday because of lingering wrist and knee injuries. The knee injury was something from Kansas State "that hasn't improved as much as we'd like," Larranaga said.

Freshman Manu Lecomte is still in Belgium finishing up the many exams required to graduate the equivalent of his senior year in high school. Then the NCAA clearinghouse has to convert everything and grant his eligibility. The 5-foot-8 guard could be featured heavily in the lineup with Shane Larkin leaving earlier than expected for the NBA Draft.

Junior college transfer James Kelly "is very athletic and I think he fits very, very well and will help us," Larranaga said.

Transfers Sheldon McClellan (Texas) and Donnavan Kirk (DePaul) were still awaiting final clearance to join the summer practices. Kirk will be eligible to play next year.

The Kirk transfer came together with amazing speed. The former and current Hurricane only asked for his release from DePaul about a month ago. He finished up school work in Chicago, then chose Miami after visiting Colorado State.

Princeton, N.J. freshman Davon Reed "has good size, good length, good ball skills," Larranaga said. He just doesn't have the experience against opponents with the same attributes.

Garrius Adams and Rion Brown are emerging as the two vocal leaders on the roster.

Even after losing six players last year, Miami brings six more seniors back. (It may be the oldest inexperienced team in basketball). Seniors include Brown, Adams, Kirk, Raphael Akpejiori, Justin Heller and Erik Swoope.

Last Thursday's NBA Draft was huge for UM, Larranaga said. There were some nervous moments for Larkin when projections went out the window early in the first round. Michigan's Trey Burke slipped and Larkin may have too.

"I think he's in a great situation," Larranaga said. "He's playing for one of my former players (Rick Carlisle).